New GG/InstantAction CEO?

#1 We will be releasing more about this soon. I think it's best to let Brett post all the details. I'll just say bigger and better is a safe assumption.

#2 I'm sure they will discuss this when they are ready. I foresee big changes coming... Very big changes, but then.. I do wear glasses so my vision might not be the best to go by. :p

#3 Hey guys,

There is indeed a big change coming for our company, and it's been crazy around here. Having someone like Lou Castle join our team is nothing short of exciting. Rest assured that the following is true:

1. This is not indicative of a lay-off in any way. I've already had some GG community members ask me what's going on, and I wanted to assure you this is not the case. If we move, everyone (and I mean every person we employ) has been offered a job at our new location.

2. We are as committed to Torque as ever. New blood, new opportunities. Just like we have been able to do great things with Torque since IAC invested in us, this is another huge opportunity to continue to make Torque great.

That is all we can say for the moment. Although bringing on someone of Lou's caliber has been a goal of ours for some time now, we just learned about it as well, so still lots of new details to work out. But we're all really pumped for some good change over here!

#4 And maybe the next time I attend an IGDC, it will be in Vegas hehe.
I'll miss an excuse to visit the Pacific Northwest though, so gorgeous out there.

#5 Oh no. I was just starting to see about upgrading to T3d. Well, I will wait a bit to see how things shake out.

#6 I wouldn't wait if you were going to. A company move is a lot different from anything *bad*. I don't see how it's anything bad at all :)

#7 @jydog: Torque 3D is shipping no matter what. You will see updates and bug fixes for months to come, just as we were planning way before Lou joined the team. We have a budget and plan for that. We have contractors who will be paid for work one way or the other. And with Lou, we have the ability to take many options we didn't have before as we spec out the next versions of the engine.

#8 I agree that most likely nothing bad will come out of it. Lou’s addition has great potential as does the move.

But! I have a number of pieces of software that I had purchased and was working seriously with. The company “merges” with a larger company. You get assurances everything will be fine, then the software and support disappear (Serious Magic). Or you buy it and upgrades. Later it is released for free, then shuts down after a bit. Or you, well, you get the idea.

You work for a company for 11 years. They get bought out with assurances that nothing will change. A few months later they shut down the factory in Chicago and give you the option to join one in Michigan. A few years later they decide to shut down US operations and move to Mexico. All the while saying everything is just fine.

All that to just say I have reservations to take corporate assurances with a grain of salt and to be hesitant with major purchases {at least when one is looking for employment ;) }

Still hopeful, just hesitant and will let the dust settle for a bit.

#9 @jydog: I can see how it might feel that way. And I do respect your decision to wait until the dust settles. But I saw this company go through the IAC merger in 2007, and people were saying the same things about us then. Given my unique vantage point within the company, I see this as opening doors for Torque, not closing them. Lou's already super impressed with what we've created so far. Being someone who's done game programming in a small indie start-up, he knows the value of good tech when he sees it.

The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. :)

#10 Hmm... hopefully he doesn't try to bring the EA corporate culture to IAC/GG. That would be unfortunate.

#11 So very very agreed Gerald.

I am glad to hear that T3D will continue the development path.
When IAC bought into GG, it seemed that TGEA was placed on hold and development went a bit wonky due to several people leaving. I hope that the same does not happen with this change...but in the end, lives are more important than engine tech.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you guys.

#12 I have a great idea - move GG over to the UK and employ me :) seems like a great office environment to be working in and I could be the errrr errrmmm office Joker? (Ooops sorry didn't mean to steal Mich's job).

Good luck with the office move, having been through a huge move last year offices and datacentre, I know just how stressful and disruptive it can be. The benefit though we get free chocolate, crisps and freshly ground coffee - hey I'm cheap they sold me on moving with that offer.

#13 I think it's sort of odd that this announcement rolls out, followed closely by a T3D update (http://www.garagegames.com/community/blogs/view/17863) from Matt Fairfax.

Forty some odd comments in and not a word from Brett. I smell a shakeup...

#14 @Patrick - Brett is just swamped right now, which is why Matt and I have posted the past two Torque 3D dev blogs.